Psychosomatic Medicine Tips for Better Browsing
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by MATHÈ, A. A.
Right arrow Articles by KNAPP, P. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by MATHÈ, A. A.
Right arrow Articles by KNAPP, P. H.

Psychosomatic Medicine 33:323-340 (1971)
© 1971 American Psychosomatic Society

Emotional and Adrenal Reactions to Stress in Bronchial Asthma

ALEKSANDER A. MATHÈ MD1 and PETER H. KNAPP MD1

1 Psychophysiology Laboratory, Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine 80 East Concord St, Boston, Mass.

Aleksander A. Matht, MD, 80 East Concord St, Boston, Mass 02118

Urinary epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE) and vanylmandelic acid (VMA), plasma cortisol and free fatty acids (FFA), respiratory and cardiovascular indices, and subjectively reported emotion were measured on successive days under conditions of stress and relaxation in 6 healthy males and 6 matched young males with perennial, mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma in remission. They had taken no medication for at least a week and no steroids for 6 months. Asthmatics, as compared to control Ss, had significantly lower urinary E values, during both stress and control periods. Initial levels of NE and VMA excretion in urine were normal; NE levels responded to stress as expected, but did not discriminate between groups. Plasma cortisol did not differ between groups in this small sample.

These findings argue against a global sympathetic nervous system or adrenal cortical defect, and are consistent with the hypothesis of a specific hypothalamicadrenal medullary defect in bronchial asthma. Respiratory indices (unlike heart rate and blood pressure) differentiated between the groups: asthmatics had lower airway conductance and respiratory rate and an opposite direction of change in these indices under stress. Psychologically, asthmatic Ss exhibited a marked field independence and, although as emotionally aroused by stressors as were controls, gave evidence of inhibition of aggressive impulses.

Submitted on January 12, 1970
Revised on December 17, 1970




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
J. M. Feldman, P. M. Lehrer, S. M. Hochron, and G. E. Schwartz
Defensiveness and Individual Response Stereotypy in Asthma
Psychosom Med, March 1, 2002; 64(2): 294 - 301.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 ThoraxHome page
A Huntley, A R White, and E Ernst
Relaxation therapies for asthma: a systematic review
Thorax, February 1, 2002; 57(2): 127 - 131.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
T. Ritz and A. Steptoe
Emotion and Pulmonary Function in Asthma: Reactivity in the Field and Relationship With Laboratory Induction of Emotion
Psychosom Med, December 1, 2000; 62(6): 808 - 815.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
T. Ritz, A. Steptoe, S. DeWilde, and M. Costa
Emotions and Stress Increase Respiratory Resistance in Asthma
Psychosom Med, May 1, 2000; 62(3): 401 - 412.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
G. K. Fritz, H. Steiner, J. Hilliard, and N. Lewiston
Pediatric and Psychiatric Collaboration in the Management of Childhood Asthma
Clinical Pediatrics, December 1, 1981; 20(12): 772 - 777.
[Abstract] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1971 by the American Psychosomatic Society